New milestone for Athers

Michael Atherton claimed another milestone before his stubborn innings was finally ended as England progressed slowly towards parity in the deciding Test against Pakistan.  

Resuming the fourth day 128 runs adrift on 277 for four, looking to make the Test and the series safe, Atherton added just eight runs to his overnight 117 before his nine hours and 39 minute occupation of the crease came to a close.

He had already become England's fifth leading Test batsman in history by reaching 121 this morning and passing Wally Hammond's tally of 7,249 runs and was closing in on overtaking Andy Flower as the second highest Test run-scorer this year.

But he played a rare loose shot, taking his hand off the bat as he pushed forward firmly to Abdur Razzaq, and edged behind to give wicketkeeper Moin Khan a diving catch low to his right to fall just three runs short of eclipsing the Zimbabwean.

Graeme Hick had earlier fallen to the fifth ball of the day, hooking Waqar Younis straight to Shahid Afridi at square leg to increase Pakistan's hopes of wrapping up the innings quickly and claiming a healthy first innings lead.

Atherton, though, frustrated the home side for a further 14 overs.